Vibrating machine



Feb. 16, 1932. L. s. cHADwlcK 1,844,931

VIBRATING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet i Fe. 16, 1932. 1 s. CHADWICK VIBRATING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Feb. 16, 1932;. 1 s, cHADwlcK 1,844,931

VIBRATING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1928 5 sheetssheet mi sm-w MM 1 s. cHADyvlcK 1,844,931

VIBRATING MACHINE Filed April 6. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ammi,

.lill 4 mii@ 7 9 Feb. 16, 1932.

Feb. 16, 1932. Y 1 s, CHADwlCK 1,844,931

VIBRATING MACHINE SH01 wu; s

Patented Feb. 16, 1932 PATENT kOFFICE y LEES. CHADWIGK, F SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO VIBRATING MACHINE y Application filed April 6,

This invention relates to improvements in vibrating machines that are used for exercising and massaging various parts oi the human body; and the particular variety of machines of this Yclass wherewith my improvements are concerned is that involving vibrating arms to the respective ones of which the opposite ends of an applicator belt are connected, the belt being adapted to be engaged about a part or member of the body so that when said arms are vibrated the belt is jerked ifirst in one direction and then the other with rapid strokes, and this action, being imparted to the portion oia the body wheiewith thebelt is engaged, exercises the muscles and stimulates` circulation with the Well known beneiicial results.

It is evident that the stroke of such niachines have to be varied to meet the require ments of different individuals, as well as to adapt the treatment to various parts oithe body. In the prevailing types of machines of the kind in question, provisions are made forv adjusting the stroke, but .in all cases with which l am familiar the adjustment can only be made when the machine is at rest; the adjustments oi the stroke length et' the two arms hc ve to be made separately, and there is nothing to insure the strokes or" the two'arms being adjusted to the saine length, and any appreciable deviation from this results in unsatistactory action and in vibrations being set up in the framer structure of the machine. l

The fundamental purpose ofiny invention is to provide a vibrating machine of the type referred to incorporating means by which the stroke of the vibrating arms may be 0 quickly and conveniently .altered to suit the requirements of diierent individuals or diierent parts or members of the body, or to adapt it to the changingl needs 0i a given individual as his or lier muscles become more e5 developed through the continued use oi" the apparatus.

A further object is to provide means for altering the strokes of the two Vibrating arms simultaneously and correspondingly so as to insure like action of the two arms and 1928. Serial No. 267,828.

thus avoid vibrations being set up in the machine structure.

A yfurther object is to provide a stroke adjusting means that may be actuated while the machine is in operation so that the action best suited to the needs of an individual may be instantly attained.

Further objects are to provide a relatively simple, substantial and durable construction for vibrating machines of the aforesaid type, and one that stands rigidly upon the floor or other support so that the full effect ofthe vibrating mechanism is available to the user.

With the foregoing objects in view, along with others that Will appear as this description proceeds, the vinvention may be defined as consisting of the combination and arrangement of parts set out in theclaims annexed hereto and illustrated, in two eXe-mpliiications, in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side elevation of a `machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional'detail on the line 3 3 of Fig. l; Fig. lis a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; F ig.` 5 is a plan view orp the machine; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through the machine on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is aside elevation of a machine embodying a modication of the invention; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a front view of the machine shown in Fig. 7; and Fig. 10 is a sectional detail on the correspondingly numbered line of Fig. 9.

1 is the base of the machine which may consist Of a relatively heavy casting, and rising from the base near its rear end is a standard 2 that is shown as secured to the base by screws 3. Brackets 4 are fastened, as by C screws 5, to the front corners of the base 1, and braces 6 extend diagonally from the upper end of the standard 2 to the brackets 4 and assist in holding the standard rigid. The standard 2 has a relatively large opening 7 (F ig. 2), and on oppositeA sides of said opening are'aXially aligned bosses 8 within which a shaft 9 is journaled. Secured to this shaft within the opening 7 is a large pulley l0,- and a belt 11 is engaged aboutsaid pulley and a l smaller pulley 12 on the shaft 13 of an electric motor 14. The frame of this motor is pivoted at l5 to the machine base 1, and it is adapted to be rocked in a direction to tighten the belt 11 by means of a screw 16 that is pivotally connected to the frame of the motor opposite the latters pivotal connection with the base, and a nut 18 is threaded on said screw and has a reduced end that bears within an opening in an abutment 19 that rises from the base. The nut 18 incorporates a hand wheel by means of which it may be adjusted to swing the motor on its pivot and thus regu late the tension of the belt 11.

Supported by and between the brackets 4 is a shaft 25, on which are mounted rocker arms 26 that rise to about the horizontal plane of the previously mentioned shaft 9. Crank disks 28 are fastened to the opposite ends of the shaft 9, and connecting rods 29 have their rear ends journaled on crank pins 30 that are carried by the disks 28, and their forward ends pivotally connected at 31 to the upper ends of the rocker arms 26. Likewise conf nected to said arms adjacent the connecting rods are the lower ends of vibrating arms Carried by the free ends of the vibrating arms are hooks 33 over which are adapted to be engaged the looped ends 34 of an applicator belt or strap 35 which may be made of suitable fabric.

The belt 35 is adapted to be engaged or wrapped about the part-s or members of the body which it is desired to exercise or massage. The hooks 33 are curved as shown so that the belt may be extended therefrom at any angle within a wide range of vertical adjustment.

Slidable along the vibrating arms 32 are bearing sleeves 36 having transverse branches 37 and 38 4) intermediate their ends. Duets 39 extend axially through the branches 37 and 38 and at their inner ends enter a groove 40 that extends about the bore of the sleeve 36. The outer ends of the branches 37 and 38 are counterbored to form conical seat-s for the tapered ends of bearing members 41 and 42. These bearing members are supported in a frame, designated generally by the reference numeral 43, coinprising a cross bar 44 and side members 45 that extend rearwardly from the opposite ends of the cross bar and are pivotally con? nected at 46 to the upper corners of the standard The ends of the cross bar 44 e):- tend forwardly and terminate in hollow bosses within which the bearing members 41 are engaged, and the bearing members 42 are threaded and are screwed through lugs 48 that project forwardly from the cross bar. Lock nuts 49 are applied to the bearing members 42 to secure them against accidental displacement.

It is evident from the foregoing description that the bearing members 41 and 42 constitute the pivots on which the vibrating arms 32 swing, and that these pivots may be adjusted longitudinally of said arms by raising and lowering the forward end of the frame 43. This is conveniently accomplished by means of a handle 50 that is secured to and projects forwardly from a depending lug 51 on the cross bar 44.

To hold the frame 43 in various positions to which it is adjusted I employ a latch 52 that is pivoted at 53 to the handle 50 and is designed for cooperation with a notched quadrant 55 that is mounted in the top of a post 56 that rises from the base 1 immediately to the rear of the shaft 25. The quadrant is held rigid by means of braces 57 that are inclined downwardly and rearwardly from the upper end of the quadrant to the correl sponding end of the standard 2 Where they are shown, in Fig. 6, as extended through, and as having nuts 58 applied to their threaded ends on opposite sides of, the standard. The inner end of the handle 50 is slotted (Fig. 3) to accommodate the quadrant andl the body portion of the latch 52, and it is bored longitudinally (Fig. 6) to receive a spring 59 which acts, through the intervention of a plunger 60, to urge the latch toward the quadrant. A stop 61 on the quad rant 55 is adapted to be engaged by the handle to limit the upward movement of the frame 43.

The post 56 is shown as made in sections that are connected together by a T 62, and

at least the lower section is tubular so that wires may be led upwardly from beneath the base 1 through said post and forwardly through the horizontal branch of the T 62 to a switch 64 that is supported by said T. The switch is thus located in convenient reach of the user.

A suitable lubricant is adapted to be injected through axial passageways in the bearing members 41 into the ducts 39 and grooves 40 to insure free oscillation of the sleeves 36 on the bearing members 41 and 42, and easy sliding of the sleeves along the vibrating arms 32. Naturally, a certain amount of lubricant will be present on the exposed portions of the vibrating arms above and below the sleeves 36 and to protect the user or his or her garments from becoming soiled by coming in Contact with the greasy portions of the vibrating arms, and to prevent lubricant from being thrown from the arms onto adjacent objects through the vigorous action of the machine, guards are applied to the arms. These guards may be in the nature of straps of leather or other suitable material, and are engaged about the curved lower ends of the arms and over saddles 71 that are applied to tops of said arms.

The operation of the machine is quite apparent from the foregoing description of its construction. When the switch 64 is closed and the motor is energized, it will drive the pulley 10 through the belt 11 and rotate the cranks that are secured to the ends of the shaft 9 thereby to swing the rocker arms 26 and vibrate the arms 32 to which the applicator belt 35 is connected. IVhen the user desires to alter the stroke of the vibrating arms 32, he grasps the handle 50, disengages the latch 52 from the quadrant 55 and swings the frame 4:3 to adjust the sleeves 36 along the vibrating arms. When the frame is lowered the swing of the free ends of the arms is increased, and when elevated, said swing is reduced. Thus the performance of the machine may be altered to produce any desired action between a very vigorous stroke to a short and gentle one.

A somewhat simpler construction than that above described is illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10, and in this embodiment of the invention the vibrating action is slightly different from that of the preceding form. I-Iere the vibrating arms are given a reciprocatory as well as a vibratory movement. In this simpler construction, a standard rises from the forward end of the base 76. The upper end of the standard is provided with spaced bearings 77 within which a shaft 78 is journaled, and secured to the shaft between said bearings is a pulley 79 which has driving connection, through a belt 80, with a relatively small pulley 81 on the shaft of an electric motor 82 whose frame is pivoted at 83 to the base of the machine. The motor has a tendency to overbalance rearwardly and in practice it is found that its weight is sufhcient to maintain the belt under the required tension.

Crank disks 85 are secured to the ends of the shaft 78, and journaled directly upon the crank pins 86 thereof are the lower ends of vibrating arms 87. These arms reciprocate through sleeves 88 that are pivotally connected to the opposite ends of a cross head 89. This cross head incorporates tubular bearing portions 90 that slide on posts 91 which are fixed to and rise from rearwardly extending bosses 92 of the standard 75. A cross member 93 rigidly connects the upper ends of the posts 91, and braces 94 extend downwardly and rearwardly from the cross member 93 to the rear end of the base 76. The middle portions of the braces 94 are tied to the upper end of the standard 75 by members 96.

rIhe cross head 89 is adapted to be raised and lowered so as to adjust the sleeves 88 along the vibrating arms 87 by means of a screw 97. The screw is journaled at its upper end in the cross member 93 and above said cross member is equipped with a hand wheel 98. The screw is threaded through a central boss of the cross head.

In this machine, an electric switch 99 by which the motor 82 is controlled, is mounted on the standard 7 5. GruardsV 100, like those designated '70 in the previously described ma.-

chine, are applied to the vibratin'garms87. 101 designates;y the applicator belt whose loopedends 102 are adapted to be engaged with hooks 103 carried bythe upper ends of the `vibrator. arms. f In the use `ofthismachine, afterclosing the switch 99, the operator applies the belt 101 to the part ofthe body which it is desired to treat. Now by turning the hand wheel l 98 he may shiftthe sleeves 88 along the vibrator arms. 87 to obtain the length of stroke desired, the screw'97 serving not only as a meansfor adjusting said sleeves through` the intervention ofthe head 89, but. also as a means forholding the parts in any position to which theyV are adjusted. yIt will be noted in this case that the free ends ofthe vibrating arms travel throughl orbits which change with the adjustmentof the fulcrumsy of said arms, and in all cases the arms will have not only a lvibratory action but a reciprocatory movementas well. Thisperformance of the machine enhances thel massaging action of the applicator belt upon the body.

Having thus describedv my invention, what Icla-im is y 1. In a vibratingmachinefor'massaging parts of thebody, the combination of a rocker arm, a vibrating arm having one of 'its ends pivotally connected to thel freel end of the rockerarmwith said arms in substantially endto end relation, means for imparting vibratory movement tothe said arms in the regionA of their pivotal connection, a pivotal support for the ,vibrating armr that is shiftable longitudinally thereof, an applicator connected to the vibrating arm, and means for maintaining the aforesaid pivotal support in various positions to which itis shifted.

2. In` a vibrating machine for massaging parts of the body, the combination of a pai-r of vibrating arms,van applicator belt having its .opposite ends connected to-.said arms, a pivot foreach arm that is shiftablelongitudinally' thereof, means for effecting like adjustment of the pivots of the'two arms, and mechanism for vibrating said arms.

3. Ina vibrating machine for massaging parts of the body, thecombination of a pair of vibrating arms, an applicator belt having its opposite ends connected to said arms,l a pivot for each arm4 that is shiftablelongitudinally': thereof, means for simultaneously shifting the `pivots of the two arms, and mechanism fork vibrating said arms.

4. In a .vibrating machine for massaging parts of the body, the combination of ay pair of vibrating arms, apivot for each arm that is shift-able longitudinally thereof, means for shifting the pivots of the two arms simulta- A neouslyY a corresponding-distance and for holding the pivots in various positions to which they are shifted, an applicator connected to the vibrating arms and mechanism for vibrating said arms.

5. In a vibrating machine for massaging parts of the body, the combination of a base, a standard rising from the base, afshaft rotatably supported by the standard, means for driving the shaft, cranks on the shaft, a pair of vibrating arms operatively connected to the respective cranks, an applicator belt having its opposite ends connected to said arms, a member shiftable longitudinally of the vibrating arms, and slidable and pivotal connections between said arms and said member.

6. In a vibrating machine for massaging parts of the body, the combination of a base, a frame structure rising from the base, a shaft rotatably supported by the frame structure, means for driving said shaft, cranks on the shaft, a pair of vibrating arms, operative connections between said arms and the respective cranks, an applicator belt having its opposite ends connected to the vibrating arms, a member shiftable longitudinally of the vibrating arms in a xed course with respect to the frame structure, slidable and pivotal connections between the vibrating arms and said member, and means for securing said member to the frame structure in various positions to which it is shifted.

7. In a vibrating machine for massaging parts of the body, the combination of a base, a standard rising from the base, a shaft rotatably supported by the standard, means for driving the shaft, cranks on the shaft, rocker arms supported by the base, vibrating arms pivotally connected at one of their ends to the free ends of the rocker arms, connecting rods operatively connecting the cranks with the rocker and vibrating arms in the region of their pivotal connections, a frame pivoted to the aforesaid standard, slidable and pivotal connections between the vibrating arms and said frame, and means for locking said frame in various positions.

8. In a vibrating machine for massaging parts of the body, the combination of laterally spaced vibrating arms, a member shiftable longitudinally thereof, means through Which said arms are slidably and pivotally connected to said member, and guards embracing the vibrating arms and said means for preventing lubricant from being thrown therefrom.

9. In a vibrating machine for massaging parts of the body, the combination of a pair of vibrating arms, a pivot for each arm that is shiftable longitudinally thereof, means for shifting the pivots of the two arms, an applicator connected to the vibrating arms, and mechanism for vibrating said arms.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

LEE S. CHADWICK. 

